"It's a Dream to Win in Rio de Janeiro," Says Brazil's Surfing Leader Filipe Toledo

05/18/2015 - 10h09

São Paulo's Filipe Toledo, 20, used the word "dream" to define what he was feeling after he won the Rio de Janeiro round of the World Surf League on Sunday, May 17, on Barra da Tijuca beach.

In the final against Australian Bede Durbidge, 32, Filipinho, as he is called, had an outstanding performance and finished the heat with 19.87 points, while Durbidge had 14.70.

"I almost cried. Look at this crowd. I've never seen anything like this. I thank you all. It's a dream to win this round," said Filipinho after his victory.

"The support that I have received so far has been wonderful. I felt very good. Everything is amazing. I am absolutely thrilled. I am speechless," he said.

Filipe Toledo now leaves Rio as the runner-up in the ranking, only 550 points behind the leader of the competition, Brazilian Adriano de Souza, known as Mineirinho, 28.

Translated by THOMAS MUELLO

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